The Pirin Mountain (Vihren Peak at 2914 m) is the second highest
mountain in Bulgaria and the third highest mountain on the Balkan
Peninsula. Three of the Pirin peaks are higher than 2900 m, and
more than 90 of them reach above 2500 m. The Thracians called Vihren
Peak Orbelus - "snow mountain". The Slavs named it after
their thunder god Perun, who according to their beliefs dwelled
on the inaccessible mountain peaks. This is an appropriate name
for this wild, rugged mountain, which is one of the most beautiful
Bulgarian moun­tains, with its numerous lakes (some 160), hidden
in deep cirques. The typical alpine landforms such as trog valleys,
cirques, ridges and moraines are found mainly in North Pirin, the
most frequently visited region. A large part of the mountain has
been made a national park, biosphere reserve and is on the UNESCO
world natural and cultural heritage list. It offers more than 2000
higher plants (white and black fir), many endemic and rare species
(edelweiss and Pirin tea) and indigenous animals.

Rozhen Monastery, painting
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The Rozhen Monastery was erected in 1220 in the foot
of the Pirin Mountain, on a place where there had been ancient shrines.
In the 14th centu­ry, the monastery was the center of a calligraphic
school. It was a Greek convent for a period of time. It was the
refuge of lane Sandanski, a national liberation leader who is buried
nearby. The frescoes in the monastery ossuary date from 1662. It
has unique woodcarved iconostases and the church stained glass from
1715 is the only one of its kind in Bulgaria. Rozhen is the most
distinctive monastery in Southwestern Bulgaria.